Short answer: a newborn often sleeps around 14 to 17 hours a day, spread across many short stretches. By one year, most land at roughly 11 to 14 hours, and preschool-age little ones usually need around 10 to 13 hours. But, and this is important, every child is different. The numbers are guidelines, not gospel.
Here we walk through what you can expect at different ages, why sleep looks the way it does, and what you can do yourself to make nights a little calmer. For the whole family.
How much children sleep at different ages
Newborn, 0 to 3 months
Newborns sleep almost all the time. Around 14 to 17 hours a day is typical, but sleep comes in short stretches of a couple of hours at a time, around the clock. A newborn doesn't tell day from night yet. That's completely normal, even if it feels anything but normal when you're awake at three in the morning.
Infant, 4 to 11 months
Now a daily rhythm slowly starts to take shape. Most babies at this age sleep around 12 to 16 hours a day, with a growing share of it happening at night. Daytime sleep settles into two or three more distinct naps.
The one-year-old, 1 to 2 years
Around 11 to 14 hours a day is typical. Many children go from two naps a day to one, often sometime during the second year. Night sleep gets longer and more continuous, even if wake-ups still happen.
Toddlers and preschoolers, 3 to 5 years
Preschool-age children usually need around 10 to 13 hours of sleep a day. Many stop napping at some point during this period, which makes night sleep all the more important.
Why do children sleep so differently?
Two healthy children of the same age can have completely different sleep needs. It comes down to temperament, growth spurts, development and the rhythm of everyday life. Teething, colds and new skills, like learning to crawl or walk, can also throw sleep off temporarily.
A better measure than hours on the clock is how your child is doing. A child who's alert, curious and in a reasonably good mood during the day is probably getting the sleep they need. A child who's grumpy, overtired and struggles to fall asleep may need an earlier bedtime or more daytime sleep.
How to help your child sleep longer
You can't control how long your child sleeps. But you can set the stage to make it easier. Here's what usually makes the biggest difference:
- Steady routines. The same order every evening, for example bath, diaper change, pyjamas, story and settling down. Children love predictability.
- A dark, cool bedroom. Light signals wakefulness. A dark, cool environment helps the body wind down.
- Daylight and movement during the day. Fresh air and daytime activity make it easier to sleep at night.
- A calm hour before bed. Dial the tempo down well in advance. Overexcited little ones rarely drift off nicely.
- A dry, comfortable diaper. A wet or chafing diaper is one of the most common reasons children wake up when they don't need to.
Less leak, more sleep
That last point is our home turf. A diaper that leaks in the middle of the night means wet sheets, a diaper change in the dark and a child who's wide awake when they should be sleeping. Nobody wins.
Bammies diapers are made with super-absorbent bamboo fibers that keep your baby dry for up to 12 hours. The layer closest to the skin is 100% bamboo, soft and breathable, with no lotions or perfumes. Gentle on skin all night long, with significantly less plastic than conventional diapers.
Still leaking at night? Try these tricks:
- Pull the diaper up a little extra high at the back.
- Fluff out the leak barriers around the legs so the elastic isn't folded inwards.
- Go up a size if the diaper fills up quickly or leaks at the back. Night-time leaks are often a sign it's time for the next size.
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When should you seek help?
Night wakings are normal, especially during the first year. But if your child has real trouble sleeping over time, snores heavily, or if you feel worried, talk to your child health clinic. They're used to sleep questions and can give advice tailored to your child.
Summary: how long do children sleep?
- 0 to 3 months: around 14 to 17 hours, in short stretches around the clock.
- 4 to 11 months: around 12 to 16 hours, with more and more sleep at night.
- 1 to 2 years: around 11 to 14 hours, often with a daytime nap.
- 3 to 5 years: around 10 to 13 hours, as daytime naps are phased out.
And remember: the numbers are guidelines. Look at your child, not just the clock. A bright and happy child is most likely getting exactly as much sleep as they need.
Less leak, more sleep. That's the whole idea.